ALICE LYDIA SCHELLENBERG

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ALICE LYDIA SCHELLENBERG August 28, 1927 - March 4, 2018 Alice Lydia Peterson was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on August 28, 1927. She was adopted by Nicholas and Anna Heese from the Children's Home in Winnipeg when she was a month old; they truly were her family for her entire life. They lived on the family farmstead and she and Grandpa would go fetch the cows home in the evenings while he recited poetry in German to her or sang her Russian ditties. Her favourite times were spent listening to him play violin, playing cribbage and crokinole with him, gardening and canning vegetables and fruit with Grandma and waiting for St. Nicholas to visit on Christmas Eve. This was always her favourite holiday. Not many knew this, but despite not being able to finish her education and become a nurse (her only regret), she was also fluent in three languages. Mom sang in the choir at church and this is where she first met her husband, Edward Benno Schellenberg. They were married when Mom was 18 (1945) and she went with him to the logging camp where she was the cook, then to the cheese factory at New Bothwell and finally to Winnipeg, where he worked at a hatchery before taking a position at Crescent Creamery. Mom continued to work as a housekeeper for a wealthy Winnipeg family until she had me in 1954. This is where her devotion to family led her and this is what kept her going. She was devastated when Dad passed away at just 72 years of age but she learned to cope and took pride in her independence. She valued her friendship with Mary Klassen and Willy Heese (her cousins), Mary Thurgar (her neighbour) and Vicky Neufeld. Her church, Bethel Mennonite, and her family were her rock. She always felt an affinity for Queen Elizabeth II with their birthdates being so close and followed her life closely. I used to tease her about that. Mom loved to laugh and had a wonderful sense of humour but much of her time was spent working in the home. She also loved to read and enjoyed classical music as well as more contemporary tunes. She made my clothing until I was a teen and worked tirelessly as a seamstress for a small ballet company in Winnipeg, surrounded by sequins, satin and tulle 'til the early mornings, to help pay for my school trips and activities. She gardened, canned, cooked and baked, kept an immaculate house and attended all my school activities while Dad often worked in the evenings or during the nights. She loved animals - especially her dog Cretia who passed away many years ago. My friends were her children, too, and they all felt welcomed and loved in our house. She considered this to be her life's work and she was dedicated to it. She was a cancer survivor and fought dementia to the end. She was also a Disney fan from the 'git go'. Alice Schellenberg was predeceased by her mother Anna (Ludmilla) Heese and her father Nicholas Heese. She is survived by her only daughter Sharon (and Mike) Damon, her grandchildren - the loves of her life - Heather Dawn (and Chris) Norris and Colleen Ann (and Patrick) Book, and her especially beloved great-granddaughters Morgan, Laurie and Caly Norris and Charlie and Izzy Book. She is also survived by her "second daughter", Kaye Grant, who has been her friend, advocate, family representative and faithful companion for the past 12 years. She also leaves the remaining members of the Heese and Schellenberg families. Thank you to St. Norbert Personal Care Home and her favourite nurses for the continued loving care of Mom and to the Victoria Hospital for all you have done. Since dementia took the person we once knew from us, donations to the appropriate organizations would be greatly appreciated, the Winnipeg Humane Society, Alzheimer Society or a children's charity of your choice. Mom loved flowers, so those would be accepted as well as part of the celebration of her life. We love you, we remember you and we will miss you always, Mom. Funeral service will he held at 2:00 p.m. on March 10, 2018 at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 4000 Portage Avenue, with interment to follow. For those who wish to sign the online Guest Book please visit www.chapellawn.ca Chapel Lawn Funeral Home 204-885-9715

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Mar 08, 2018